Match-comb



. setting action.

LOUIS J. PETERS, 0F BRGOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Maren-cone.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. to, ieao.

Applicationfiled January 21, 1919.- Serial No. 272,385.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis J. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Combs,'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in matches, and more particularly to the type of match construction known as strip or comb matches. v

This type of match is generally utilized in covered form-known as a book match in the tradethe book being made up of the comb or strip, and the cover within which the comb is secured by stapling through the base portion of the comb.

The present invention pertains more specifically to the formation of the comb or strip element which is generally formed from a strip of suitable paper board, the latter being subjected to suitable die action which not only serves to produce a slitted or severed efi'ect extending inwardly from a side edge of-the strip toward theopposite edge-forming the embryo structure or splint of the individual mat-ch-butalso tends to produce an offset relation between adljacent splints, the inner ends of the sp ints each remaining attached to the unsevered portion of the strip. These splints are generally formed in units of a predetermined number of splintsten, for instance-and these units may be spaced apart in the length of the stock strip by removing the splint portion between the units, the strip thus being formed of a succession of units of this general type.

The stri is then dipped to complete the match, an maybe scored on a line approximating the inner ends of the splints, thus producing a comb efi'ectthe source of the trade name. The units are then separated, and finally incased toproduce the book.

Obviously, the successful production of the comb is more or less dependent on the character of the slit-producing or severing operation, since the embryo structure or splint-enade up of paper stockis liable to be weakenedby the severing and ofi3- Hence, the die operations are of a more or less intricate type.

While the book or comb match structures have gone into extensive commercial use owing to the low cost of manufacturethey have the disadvantage of inherent weakness due to the fact that each match has its splint ,portion formed from a single thicknessof the stock and has been subjected to the severing andofisetting operation, and in addition, may be presented by a flaw or Variamatch from its comb.

As a result, it frequently happens that the splint may break at the base of the'head or at an intermediate portion of its length, and while the break may not separate the head portion from the part retained in the fingersand even this may occur occasionallythe break. causes a bend to the ignited portion of the match such as to produce great inconvenience and frequently results in burning the fingers.

The present invention is designed to greatly reduce if not eliminate the effects of this weakness by providing a structural strengthening factor in the match itself by producing a rib-like formation to the splint portion, preferably in advance of the ofi'- setting operation, for instance, during the action of the dies, so that this strengthening factor is present in the completed comb, but its presence tends to decrease the liability of a damaging eifect during the dieing operation and thereby reducing the weakening tendence in the completed match.

This formation is of any preferred type, a simple way being to form a depression on one side of the strip, the displaced material forming a rib on the other side, thus varying the cross-section of the splint by a more or less ofi set relation of an intermediate portion of the splint with the ofi'set extend in in the direction of splint length. This sp int offset may extend throughout the length of the splint or for a portion of such length. Since this rib-like formation is preferably provided during and as a part of the dieing operation, the manufacturing cost of the comb is not materially afiected. To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed,

said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully-described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. a

In the accompaning drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a comb strip in its form preliminaryto the dipping operation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pleted comb.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an individual match.

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section showing a modified form.

Since the present invention pertains more particularly to the product, I have not illustrated the detail method of manufacture, excepting that I have shown an embodiment of embryo comb formation to more clearly point out the general principles. It ma be comnoted, however, thatthe comb strip of ig.

1 isinitially in the form of a strip of paper' board of suitable character, the width of which practically corresponds to that of the base strip 10 plus the length of the splints of the matches, the length of the strip not being considered, since the die operations serve to remove portions of the strip (indicated by spaces 11) and thus form individual combs.

In prior practice, the die operations also serve to divide the spaced portions into the individual splints 12, through a severing action, extending from one side edge inwardly in directions transverse to the strip length. During the operations there is provided an off-setting operation-which may be termed group ofisettingby means of which adjacent splints are offset with relation to each other, alternate splints extending in the same general plane, thus provid-' ing practically two groups of splints, the planes of the outer ends'of the two groups being s aced apart, while the inner endsintegra with strip 10are in the same plane.

As heretofore pointed out, the character of die operation 1s of importancesince the severing and off-setting action may tend to weaken the splint.

Referring more particularly to the present invention, each s lint 12 is provided with a rib-like formation-13 extending lon- 'tudinally of the splint either extending ore end to end of the splint or spaced from said ends-the essential being that it be present in that portion of the splint which may be exposed when the match is grasped and subjected to the igniting action, the purpose being to provide a structure which Wlll. tend to withstand the splint-breaking tendency present at this time.

- tion being to produce an offset effect on a line corresponding to the line of the desired rib-like formation, viz :-in the direction of length of the splint and intermediate its side edges, the offset producing a rib on one side ofdthe splint and ,a, depression on the other S1 8. i

In. this manner, the thickness of the splint material is not materially variedthe effects of the ofl'setting action being the only change in this respectthus permitting the effect to be produced by die action. And, in order to reduce any tendency to weaken the splintby the group ofi'setting action, this splint offsetting may be provided during the general die operation, and, if desired, be concurrent with or slightly in advance of the group offsetting action of the dies.

The form of the splint ofl'set employed may be of various cross-section configuration. That shown in the drawings is of a round contour, illustrating one of the possible forms capable of being produced by die action.

As will be understood, the presence of this rib-like structure intermediate and parallel to the side edges of the splint provides a strengthening factor to the splint even though variations in paper-board stock be present, so that the liability of breakagepartialor completeof the splint is greatly reduced. In addition, the presence of the formation does not affect the burning qualities of the splint itself, so that the match has in require i Vhile I have indicated various ways in which the invention may be carried into effect, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications therein may be.

found desirable or. essential in meeting the exigencies of use, and I'desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found necessary or desirable in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompan ing claims when broadly construed.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A match combcomprising a supporting strip, a plurality of splints ofburnable fiber formed integral therewith each having an igniting head on the outer end thereof, said splints each having a longitudinally extending rib struck up therefrom.

2. A match comb comprising a supporting strip, a plurality of splints of burnable fiber formed integral therewith each havin an igniting head on the outer end thereof, said splints each having a longitudinal indentation forming a projectingrib.

3. A match comb comprising a supporting strip, a plurality of splints of paper material formed integral therewith each having an igniting head on the outer end thereof, said splints each having a longitudinal indentation forming a projecting rib.

4. A match comb comprising a supporting strip, a plurality of splints of paper material formed integral therewith each having an igniting head on the outer end thereof, said splints each having .a longitudinal indentation forming a projecting rib, said rib extending from the point of connection of the'strip and splint to the outer end thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS J. PETERS. 

